Radio receiver unit mounted in a suitcase



Nov. 1, 1949. A. N. OLSON 2,485,535

RADIO RECEIVER UNIT MOUNTED IN A SUITCASE Filed Dec. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RADIO RECEIVER UNIT MOUNTED IN A SUITCASE Arvilla Nathalyn Olson, Niles, 111.

Application December 22, 1945, Serial No. 636,700

3 Claims. 1 5

This invention relates to a new and improved radio receiver unit mounted in a suitcase. A principal object of the invention is to provide a piece of luggage equipped with a radio receiver unit without destroying the inherent utility of the luggage.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a radio receiver unit and suitcase especially adapted for usewith each other in a compact and unique construction which lends itself to easy and desirable usage.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a traveling bag having a radio receiver unit mounted therein in such a manner that it is readily accessible for use at any time.

A further object of the invention lies in the novel means for sliding the radio receiver unit into and out of operating position with respect to the suitcase.

A still further object of the invention is to pro-- vide a means for prohibiting radio operation until such time as the radio receiver unit has been shifted to an operating position in which the radio chassis is extended from the end of a suitcase to facilitate proper ventilation for heat l dissipation.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means for preventing complete separation of the radio receiver unit from the suitcase except during servicing of the radio receiver unit.

A further object is to provide a radio receiver unit built in a suitcase and adapted to be operated from outside the suitcase and yet designed to prevent undesired use of the radio receiver unit from without the suitcase when the suitcase is in baggage car or the like.

Another object of the invention is the utilization of the hinged division board in a suitcase for carrying a radio receiver antenna.

Other and further important objects of this" Figure 1 showing the suitcase closed and the radio receiver unit in closed non-operating position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the combination radio receiver unit and suitcase with portions of the suitcase cut away.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the portion of the suitcase which carries the radio receiver unit and shown with the radio receiver removed.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail perspective of the antenna carrying a hinged division board in a suitcase.

Figure -6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is an enlarged detail view of the safety switch of this combination radio and suitcase.

General use of the combination radio receiver unit and suitcase of this invention will be by travellers. The carrying of your own radio receiver in the manner herein set forth does not.

means a separate additional piece of luggage, but rather only the giving up of a small space in your regular luggage. When a person is traveling on a train or airplane or is in a hotel room, he must miss the radio programs he would regularly listen to at home unless he is able to rent a radio receiver, or unless he carries one with him. The present combined radio receiver and suitcase is designed to withstand severe handling and be ready for immediate use either in a train berth, train compartment, hotel room, or any place in which it is desired to be used.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 50 indicates generally a suitcase or traveling bag of the type having a storage compartment II for carrying clothes or other items and a cover l2 joined thereto by a hinge member iii. The cover l2 may be relatively deep such as shown for use as an additional storage compartment. However, this need not be the case as the combination radio receiver unit and suitcase of this invention could and would operate just as effectively with a shallow cover.

The storage compartment H and the cover l2 have complementary latch members M and i5, respectively. When the cover I? isswung over onto the storage compartment I I about the hinge l3, the latch members l4 and I5 are interlocked to hold the suitcase in closed position such as is shown in Figure 2. A handle I6 is provided for carrying the suitcase.

- A radio receiver unit I1 is adapted to be positioned within one end portion of the storage com partment l'l beneath a stationary cover plate I0. The radio receiver i1 is equipped with a chassis of metal, plastics, or other suitable material as shown in Figure 3. Ventilators 20 and 2! are provided in the top and side of the radio receiver chassis I9, to permit passage of air within the chassis to dissipate heat created by radio tubes and other radio elements. The top of the radio receiver I1 is equipped with a calibrated tuning dial 22, a manually turnable knob 23 for tuning the radio receiver, and a volume control knob 24. There is sufficient space for the passage of the knobs 23 and 24 beneath. the fixed cover plate 18.

On the left-hand side of the radio receiver as viewed in Figure 3 is a storage compartment 25 for receiving a coil of electrical wire 26 having an electrical'connection 21 adapted to be inserted in any electrical wall outlet. The compartment 25 is supplied with a cover 28 hinged at 29 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 A notch 30 is provided in the side of the cover plate 28 so that the cover may be closed after the coil of wire 26 has been-removed. The notch 3!) permits a single strand of the conductor cable to pass therethrough without holding the cover 28 in a raised position.

As best shown in Figure 4, the storage compartment I! is equipped with opposed track-members 3| and 32. These track members may be made ofany suitable material such as wood or metal. The tracks are equipped with grooves 33 and 3:1 for the reception of the radio receiver chassis [9. The lower surfaces of the grooves 33 and 34 are provided with felt pads or other suitable cushioning means 35 and 36 so that the radio receiver unit ll will readily slide therealong. An additional groove-is provided within the first-named grooves 33 and 34 as shown at 37 and 38. The

ends of the track members 3t and 32, which aresides of the radio receiver chassis 19 as shownin' Figure 3, and these angle members have their outwardly extending flange projecting within the inner grooves 31 and 38 in the track members 31 and 32, respectively. It will be evident from viewing Figures 3 and '4 that when the radio receiver H is positioned within the storage compartment I i of the suitcase I0, projections in the form of-angle members 4! and 42 riding within the inner grooves 3i and .38 prevent the radio receiver i? from being fully withdrawn from the suitcase I 9 inasmuch as the angle members 4! and 42 strike small stop or cover plates 39 and 40.

The cover plate I8 is rigidly screwed down to the track members 3| and 32 by screws 43 and a l. After the radio receiver I! has been inserted into the track members 3| and 32 so that the chassis l9 rides in the outer grooves :33 and Y34, a back plate 45 is fastened to the rear ends of the track members; thus preventing rearward withdrawal of the radio receiver unit I? and also preventing any interference with the radio receiving operation by any clothes or other materials put into the storage compartment ll of the suitcase I0.

As shown in Figure 1, a front plate member 46 preferably of the same material that the suitcase is made of, such as leather or the like, is fastened to the radio receiver chassis l 9 by means of screws 4'1. The plate 46 is sufficiently large so that it covers the opening-provided in the end of the storage compartment for withdrawing the radio receiver l1. When the radio receiver unit is telescoped entirely within the suitcase Hi, the plate member 46 is flush against the end wall it of the storage compartment ll. As shown in Figuresl and 3, the plate member 46 has apertures t9 and 50 in the ends thereof adapted to have inserted therethrough spring spread stud members and- 52, respectively. As best shown in Figure 3, when the plate member 45 is up against the end wall 48 of the suitcase, the studs 5| and 52 have their head portions spread so as to yieldably hold the plate member 46 in its closed position. In order to release these latching studs 5! and 52, pulling force is applied to the plate 46 at which time the heads of the studs contract permitting the plate 46 to be withdrawn over the studs;

When the radio receiver is in its innermost position within the suitcase l0, it is undesirable to have it operated in View of the fact that there would be no escape for the heat created by the radio operation and hence would constitute a fire hazard. In order to eliminate such a fire hazard, automatic switch means has been provided to prohibit radio receiving operation when the radio unit is telescoped within the storage compartment H. The electrical connecting plug 27 is inserted into an electrical outlet to receive a source of electrical energy sufficient to produce radio receiving'operationv The wire 26 travels rearwardly of the compartment 25 as shown in the dashed lines .inFigure 3 where'one'strand 53 is fastened to anarm carrying a contact member 55. A closely adjacent spring arm 56 carries an opposing contact member 51 and also a rearwardly projecting post or the like 58. The post 58 is slidably journaled within an aperture 59 in the chassis IS. The spring arm 56* normally tends to maintain the contact members 55 and 5'! in engagement whereupon the strand of wire 53 may complete its circuit to the radio receiver through the wire 60 in the same manner as the other strand of wife 6| proceeds directly to the operating mechanism of the radio receiver; However, as shownin Figure.3 in which the radio 1 receiver unit I! is fully Within thesuitcase' Ii), the post 58 has struck the back plate 45-causing the spring arm 56 to be moved rearwardly against the action of its spring tendency and causing separation of the contact elements 55 and 51. As soon as the radio receiver unit I! is withdrawn in the manner shown in Figure 1, the post 58 is free to project rearwardly of thechassis- 19 thus causing re-engagement of the contact points 55 and 57 and a resultant transmission of electrical energy to the radio receiver. As a result of this automatically operated switch, the radio receiver may only be operated when it is withdrawn from the suitcase at which time it is properly and fully ventilated so that the heat created by radio operation is fully dispersed without raising the temperature of the supporting suitcase. This automatically operated switch is shown with the contact elements 55 and 51 in closed position in Figure 7, in which figure the chassis 59 of the radio receiver unit I! has been pulled forwardly away from the back plate 45.

It is sometimes desirable to prevent withdrawal of the radio receiver from its closed position in the suitcase. One instance of this condition arises when the suitcase is put in a baggage car and at any other time when the suitcase is out of the possession of the owner. It has already been shown that when the radio receiver is te1escoped within the suitcase it cannot be operated, and hence if the radio receiver is locked within the suitcase it cannot be used. A spring latch member 62 is fastened at 63 on the cover plate It and carries a pin 64 at the other end adapted to project downwardly through the plate [8 and within an upwardly projecting socket 65 on the chassis IQ of the radio receiver unit IT. The projecting of the pin 64 through the plate I8 and into the member 65 is shown in detail in Figure 6. It will be obvious from this construction that when the pin 64 is in position as shown in Figure 6, the radio receiver is locked within the suitcase and may not be withdrawn to operating position until such time as the suitcase is opened and the spring strap member 62 raised so that the pin disengages the member 65. Thus, if the suitcase were properly locked, someone other'than the owner or rightful user could not operate the radio receiver. The spring bar 62 may be swung to the dash line position as shown in Figure 4 so that the pin 84 drops down behind the cover plate l8 and also the rear plate 45. Therefore, if the owner is planning to keep the suitcase within his possession, he may leave the pin 54 removed from its locking position and may then operate the radio receiver without opening the suitcase.

A partition 66 is hinged at 61 to the inner side of the storage compartment II. The partition 66 is primarily for the purpose of holding clothes or other materials within the storage compartment I I by means of snap fasteners 68 adapted to engage sockets 69 in the surface of the partition 66. A radio antenna 10 is sewed within the partition 6B. A wire H joins the antenna 19 and the radio receiver I! as shown in Figure 1. Bracket members 12 and 13 are attached to the partition 66 near the bottom thereof and have a surplus amount of wire wrapped therearound so that the partition 66 may be removed from its hinged relationship with the suitcase l and put up against a wall or the like in any position to accommodate better radio receiving reception. This removal of the partition 66 is shown in dashed lines in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 5, the hinge 67 comprises a sleeve member 14 on the partition 66 and a hinge pin having one end 15 unjournaled and the other end 16 fastened to the wall 11 of the storage compartment H. The two hinges 61 are identical, and the open ends I of the hinge pins project in the same direction so that the partition member 66 may be removed from its position within the suitcase merely by sliding of the partition longitudinally of the aligned hinges 61. Removal of the partition for better radio receiving reception might take place in a railway berth or compartment where the reception may be weak. In such event the antenna carrying partition may be leaned against the frame of the window or any wall.

Numerous details of construction may be varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles disclosed herein, and I therefore do not propose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined radio receiver and suitcase comprising a suitcase having a storage compartment and a hinged cover, said storage compartment having an opening in one wall thereof, a radio receiver unit positioned in said storage compartment, means in said suitcase for permitting shifting of said radio receiver unit into-and out of the suitcase through said opening, a fixed plate covering said radio receiver unit and positioned between the storage compartment and the cover, said fixed plate and said radio receiver unit having apertures in alignment when the radio receiver unit is entirely within the storage compartment and in non-alignment when the radio receiver unit is moved out of the opening in the wall of the storage compartment and removable pin means for said apertures when they are in alignment to lock said radio receiver unit within said suitcase.

2. A combined radio receiver and suitcase as set forth in claim 1 in which the removable pin means is mounted on one end of a spring latch arm which is fastened at its other end on said fixed plate covering the radio receiver unit.

3. A combined radio receiver and suitcase comprising a suitcase having a storage compartment and a hinged cover, said storage compartment having an opening in one wall thereof, a radio receiver unit positioned in said storage compartment, means in said suitcase for permitting shifting of said radio receiver unit into and out of the suitcase through said opening, a fixed plate covering said radio receiver unit and positioned between the storage compartment and the cover, said fixed plate and said radio receiver unit having cooperating locking means thereon and arranged and constructed to interengage and look only when the radio receiver unit is entirely within the storage compartment, and means for disengaging said cooperating locking means located within said suitcase storage compartment, whereby the radio receiver unit cannot be withdrawn unless access is had to the suitcase storage compartment.

ARV'ILLA NATHALYN OLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 285,305 Peirson Sept. 18, 1883 1,521,650 Rudolph Jan. 6, 1925 1,987,478 Hendrickson et a1. Jan. 8, 1935 2,078,321 Freimann et a1. Apr. 27, 1937 2,175,025 I-Iooven Oct. 3, 1939 2,226,900 Dickerson Dec. 31, 1940 2,237,260 McDonald Apr. 1, 1941 2,242,201 Woods May 13, 1941 2,258,942 White Oct. 14, 1941 2,292,163 Shea Aug. 4, 1942 2,315,315 Cairnes Mar. 30, 1943 2,319,527 Zavattaro May' 18, 1943 2,328,012 Hamilton Aug. 31, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES Radio Craft Magazine, October 1940, Figure 1, page 203. 

